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Devils organization still believes in Pete DeBoer — even with no wins

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Devils coach Pete DeBoer talks to his team during third period action of an Oct. 13 game against the Winnipeg Jets in Canada. The game ended in a loss, a familiar theme in the rough 0-4-3 season start.
(Marianne Helm/Getty Images)

Devils players and general manager Lou Lamoriello remain convinced that coach Pete DeBoer has one of the brightest hockey minds in the NHL and that he is still the man who can turn the team’s season around before it’s too late.

But as the 0-4-3 Devils look for their first victory of the season when they host the Rangers (2-4-0) tonight at Prudential Center, how patient will Lamoriello be?

"I don’t know what patience is," the GM said.

And how worried are new owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer that their team could become irrelevant before Thanksgiving if the losing continues? Certainly the Devils are looking at a must-win game.

"I’m not big on must-wins," DeBoer said yesterday. "There’s no doubt we need a win. I think we need a win for our confidence. I’m really not looking at the standings right now. For me, it’s an evaluation of how we’re playing, where our team game is and what our identity is.

"I thought we took a real good step last night in Ottawa (a 5-2 loss Thursday) and we need to keep building on that. If we do, we’ll win games. That’s my view of it."

Does facing the Rangers ramp up the desire to get that first win?

"It doesn’t get any more urgent than where we’re sitting right now. I don’t think you can ramp up the urgency any more," DeBoer said. "Complacency isn’t an issue right now."

Lamoriello has never fired a coach earlier than 14 games into a season, which he did on Nov. 6, 1989, when he sacked Jim Schoenfeld, who is now the Rangers’ assistant GM.

"I don’t think any of us predicted or felt that we’d have three points in seven games," Lamoriello said. "But we have played (only) seven games. There are still 75 games left. There is nothing we can do about those seven games, other than look at the things we did well and go over the things that we didn’t.

"I feel comfortable saying this: This team deserves a little more faith for being on the road six out of seven games and not coming out with more points. But we haven’t (gotten more points). We’re not going to dwell on it. The coaching staff is doing everything they can. So are the players. They’re working at it. We have to be more consistent in certain areas."

DeBoer confirmed that the GM has been supportive.

"Lou’s been very positive with what we’re doing," DeBoer said. "No one is happy we’re losing."

Nevertheless, there is some measure of stress.

"It’s stressful, but I think when you take jobs in this league you go in with the mind-set that you’re going to wake up every morning and look for solutions," DeBoer noted. "That’s what we do. I can’t control a lot of other things around what we do, but I can control that. As a staff, we show up every day, and we’re looking for the next solution that will help us get this on the right track, and I can tell you it is very close."

The fear of every coach is that the players lose faith, but DeBoer feels his players are behind him.

"I think so," he said. "That’s always the elephant in the room. You know it’s there. At the same time, you don’t worry about that. It sounds ridiculous, but you don’t think about, ‘If we don’t win, what could happen?’

"You’re so involved in finding a solution, and you know you’re close, and that’s where 100 percent of your energy goes."

Notes: Lamoriello said Ryane Clowe, out with a head injury, would have to start skating soon in order to come off IR to play Tuesday in Columbus.

"He’s still not feeling the way he should be," Lamoriello said. "We’ve had every test done. He’s not the only player. (Sidney) Crosby has it. I’m not uncomfortable with where he’s at. He will be okay."

QUICK-CHANGE ARTIST?

Coach Pete DeBoer and the Devils have lost their first seven games. GM Lou Lamoriello once changed his coach as early as 14 games into the season.
Here’s a look at the coaches who started but didn’t finish a season under Lamoriello: